Can acupuncture manage anxiety?

Anxiety is categorized as "a vague, unpleasant and sometimes debilitating emotion that is experienced in anticipation of some misfortune". Although numerous people suffer from anxiety in certain situations, the causes why they feel the way they do are generally hard to identify. Many people can tell when they are depressed. What is difficult to understand is why the anxiety has such a strong hold in their regular life.



The cause of anxiety has been studied for a long time. There are numerous explanations for feeling the way that you do. First and foremost, it is necessary to understand which type of anxiety disorder you may have. Researchers have been studying the impact of "feeling depressed" on the brain, and have found that a chemical imbalance may have taken place in the brain.



The sentiments we experience are based on the release and reuptake of neurotransmitters in the brain. Anxious feeling is triggered by an imbalance of specific chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin and norepinephrine. When we feel stressed, our brains discharges or absorbs chemicals either too rapidly or too slowly. If left unattended, a chemical imbalance may increase in severity as time goes by.

Drugs, such as Paxil and Effexor, are most commonly used therapies for chemical imbalance in the brain. These medications are believed to have a direct effect on key neurotransmitters. Although these drugs have effect on about 60% of the patients, those who use them often report a variety of side effects. Acupuncture has long been used to treat emotional problems, and is proved to be a powerful tool for management of depression and anxiety.



Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), human body has fourteen channels called meridians. Meridians form a network along the body that carries a universal energy called Qi. TCM theory believes that Qi can be nourished. Along the energy channels there are many points called acu-points. Each acu-point may be considered as a switch controlling the flow of energy. Malfunction of these switches may result in blockage of energy flow. TCM theory believes that illnesses are the result of meridian blockage which causes disruption of the flow of Qi. Regulating acu-points can unblock the meridians.



Acupuncture works by inserting fine needles into specific acu-points, by stimulating these points, by opening the blockage, and by eradicating the symptoms. As a system of healing, acupuncture aids the body to speed up its self-healing process. It not only helps to remove the signs and symptoms, but also it works towards the restoration of harmony in body, mind and spirit; as a result, to achieve physical, mental and social wellbeing. In summary, acupuncture is a holistic method in addressing physical and mental malfunctions, has been approved to be clinically effective in treatment of depression and anxiety.

To learn more about this topic, please visit Britannia Acupuncture Clinic.